Businesses rescue Special Pals from heat

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, August 11, 2005

After two 15-year-old air conditioning units broke late last month at the chronically underfunded Special Pals animal shelter, a number of area businesses have come to the rescue.

The two units — which executive director Yvonne David said were never trusted by Special Pals staff — broke at the same time one hot day in July, prompting workers to take emergency measures to protect the 75 animals at the shelter, at 3830 Greenhouse.

Since then, local businesses have chipped in with goods and services to help cool down the shelter. Last week, Goodman Manufacturing agreed to donate two air-conditioning units to the building, David said.

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After the air conditioners broke down, workers scrambled to cool the 30 cats and 45 dogs at the shelter, David said, giving animals extra water or placing cool, wet rags in their kennels.

Blowing hot air

"We were having very hot weather outside and, at times, it was hotter in here than it was outdoors," said Nova Hutchison, the shelter's medical technician who has worked there for nine years. "It was very hard to get work done because the fans had nothing to blow around but hot air."

Meanwhile, workers from the Bellaire Air Conditioning Co. came to the shelter and replaced part of the broken units the next day. The shelter is now cool enough to be safe for the animals and reasonably hospitable for the six part-time staffers who work there, David said.

"That has cooled off a good portion, right now we can still have our fans and be OK," David said."

The shelter lost two of its smallest animals while the air conditioning was out. A 2-month-old puppy and a 6-week-old kitten both died of heat-related illness.

Established in 1955, Special Pals is a nonprofit organization that has a budget of about $150,000 annually, David said. About $80,000 of that goes toward medical expenses.

To make a financial donation or to adopt an animal, call 281-579-7387. Hours are noon-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.